Seasonal Eating: How You Can Support Your Body’s Natural Rhythms with Food

Let’s talk about how you can nourish and support your body by simply slowing down, and paying closer attention to the seasons as they relate to your food choices. I know that making healthier choices can be overwhelming, but a great place to start is seasonal eating. 

I don’t know about you, but as the cooler weather moves in, my immediate instinct is to cook a big pot of hot soup on the stove, throw some crusty bread in the oven, light my fireplace and pull on my favorite cozy socks. It's not just a coincidence that my body and mind crave heartier warming foods at this time of year. 

Our internal environments are completely synced with the external, and this goes back years and years to when the only food that people had access to was that which the earth would grow during certain seasons. You are so deeply connected to the rhythms and cycles of the planet that you are living on. 

By choosing to eat foods that are in season, you are choosing to also diversify your gut microbiome with the “good” and beneficial bacteria that your body needs to be at its healthiest. 

When food is harvested at peak ripeness, it's filled with not only the most flavor but also the most nutrients. Seasonal food is produce that is purchased and consumed around the time that it is harvested, which is also why it is important to not only eat seasonally but locally if possible. 

Seasonal fruits and vegetables produced on local farms are often fresher as they don’t require long distances for transport. Springtime is all about new life, the color green, blooming and growth, while summer is about all of that coming to fruition -- fruits and vegetables being in full bloom! Fall is for beginning to turn inward, hunkering down and preparing for the cold months, and when winter rolls around it is all about what is under the earth, growing while keeping away from the cold. 

Here I have broken down each season and given you a little headstart when it comes to choosing different types of produce to add to your grocery list. 

Spring 

Spring greens, sprouts, baby lettuce 

Summer 

Fruit, zucchini, bell pepper, tomato   

Fall 

Onion, garlic, ginger, squash 

Winter 

Carrots, potatoes, root vegetables 

Treat of the Month 

Before I sign off, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite seasonal recipes: Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats. 

Thick and creamy pumpkin pie overnight oats with chia make the perfect easy breakfast! This recipe is protein-packed, thanks to Greek yogurt, and naturally sweetened with a bit of pure maple syrup. 

Ingredients 

1/4 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt (or use vanilla!) 

1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or any milk) 

1/4 cup pumpkin puree 

1-2 tablespoons pure maple syrup 

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1/2 cup rolled oats (gluten free if desired) 

2 teaspoons chia seeds 

1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 

Method 

1. Mix the wet ingredients. In a medium bowl, mix together greek yogurt, almond milk, pumpkin puree, vanilla and maple syrup until well combined. 

2. Add the dry. Stir in oats, chia seeds and spices. 

3.) Refrigerate. Pour into a glass jar or container and place in fridge for 4 hours or overnight. Once ready to serve, feel free to add your favorite toppings and enjoy! 

Final Thoughts

Be well friends, get creative with your seasonal recipes and reach out to local farms. Often you can buy a share in a local farm and be supplied with fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables every few weeks! This is a huge money saver, allows you to make less trips to the grocery store, and something that you can feel good about supporting. 

Emily Loss
Manager of Social Strategy and Partnerships
 

Emily strives to assimilate brand vision and goals by utilizing real voices, and by pushing boundaries. She has a passion for experience architecture and immersive video, and try to weave both through all marketing projects that she is a part of. She is well-versed in creatively forging emotional connections and authentic relationships between brands and partners while nurturing online communities and gaining an audience’s trust.

Emily is fired up about holistic healing, and the progression of the CBD industry. Her mission is to empower others to heal themselves naturally through accurate information, education and the compelling voices and stories of fellow human beings.